MILESTONES – normal child development (part 1)
Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or tasks that most children can do at a certain age range. It has a lot of individual variations. Some children can achieve their milestones earlier than others. Delay in one part doesn’t mean anything. You have to see the big picture before saying that your child is abnormal.
Check your child’s developmental progress using following tables. Should you see significant delays in any of the parts, seek your physician’s advice. Your child might suffer for developmental delay. The earlier action taken gives better benefit to your child.
The part one consists of physical skills (gross motor), vision and fine motor development. Please read part two of the article that gives you the information about hearing, language and social behaviour development of your child.
Physical skills (gross motor):
|
Milestone |
Should be achieving by… |
|
Lifts head when prone |
4 weeks |
|
Primitives reflex (Moro reflex) present |
6 weeks |
|
Ventral suspension – keeps head extended in line with body |
6 weeks |
|
Hold head at 45º when prone |
3 months |
|
Uses arm support when prone |
4 months |
|
Hold head steady when sitting |
4 months |
|
Roll over |
6 months |
|
Bear some weight on legs |
5 months |
|
No head lag on pulling to sitting |
6 months |
|
Sit unsupported |
9 months |
|
Crawl |
10 months |
|
Stand by hoisting up on weight |
10 months |
|
Stand without help |
14 months |
|
Walk holding on to furniture |
15 months |
|
Walk without help |
18 months |
|
Can walk backwards |
20 months |
|
Walk upstairs without help |
21 months |
|
Kick a ball |
24 months |
|
Over arm ‘bowling’ |
24 months |
|
Runs |
30 months |
|
Climb stairs – 2 feet per tread |
30 months |
|
Pedal a tricycle |
36 months |
|
Jumps |
36 months |
|
Climb stairs – adult style of ascent |
42 months |
|
Balance on one foot for one second |
54 months |
|
Throw a ball |
24 months |
|
Catch a bounced ball |
60 months |
|
Hops and skips |
60 months |
Manual dexterity (fine motor) and vision:
|
Milestone |
Should be achieving by… |
|
Stares intently |
6 weeks |
|
Hold hands together |
5 months |
|
Reach out for a rattle |
6 months |
|
Palmar grasp |
6 months |
|
Resist you trying to take a toy from his/her grasp |
6 months |
|
Passes rattle from hand to hand |
7 months |
|
Play with feet |
8 months |
|
Grasp object between finger and thumb (pincer grip) |
12 months |
|
Makes 2 cube tower |
12 months |
|
Clashes cubes |
12 months |
|
Pick up a small object |
18 months |
|
Scribble |
24 months |
|
Build a tower of 4 bricks |
27 months |
|
Makes 6-8 cube tower |
30 months |
|
Turns 1 page at one time |
30 months |
|
Draw a straight line |
36 months |
|
Mature pencil grip |
42 months |
|
Copy a circle |
53 months |
|
Copy a cross and square |
60 months |
|
Draw rudimentary likeness of a person |
60 months |
|
Copy a triangle |
60 months |
Reference:
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties. 5th edition. 2001.
- Quick reference cards by Medical Protection Society. 2001.
- A mom’s essential guide book by Dutch Lady.
